MAJOR
SELECTION
21 January 2004
From: W. C. Miller, USNA Academic Dean and Provost Major Selection for the
Class of 2007 and Subsequent Background The
Secretary of the Navy the Honorable Gordon England and the Chief of Naval Operations
Admiral Vern Clark have expressed a need for a larger number of newly
commissioned ensigns who have completed technical majors in college in order
to prepare these new officers for subsequent assignments in the world's most
technically advanced Navy. At the Naval Academy, this increasing demand for
technically educated ensigns will be reflected in increasing percentages of
USNA graduating classes selecting technical majors; that is, those offered by
the Divisions of Engineering & Weapons and Mathematics & Science. Class of 2007 Guidance: At least 64% of the midshipmen in the
current midshipman fourth class will be required to select technical majors when members of the class select their
academic majors in March 2004. Every effort will be made to give each
midshipman his or her first choice in academic major; nevertheless, if fewer
than 64% of midshipmen in the class select technical majors as their first
choice in March, some midshipmen will be required to enroll in their second
choice of major. For example, earlier this month almost 200 members of the
fourth class selected Political Science as their initial preference for an
academic major. The Naval Academy does not have the resources to teach that
many students in a single major, so some of those midshipmen in 2007 who
selected Political Science as their initial preference must find another
major. Selecting an Academic Major: In
considering which academic majors to indicate as your first and second
choices in March, ensure that you give careful consideration
to both choices and that at least one of your preferences is from
among the technical majors offered at USNA. Consider your performance in
courses you have already taken at the Academy, as well as your SAT test
performance, as indicators of your potential strengths. Honestly appraise
your interests: Are you going to enjoy spending the majority of your
subsequent Naval Academy time studying either one of these majors? If your first choice is a non-technical
major, have you selected as your second choice a technical major in which you
can succeed at USNA? Talk to your academic advisors. Visit the
departments you are considering; most of them are planning open house
presentations of information that could prove very useful to you, but you are
welcome anytime. Make a thoughtful choice. While I encourage you to discuss
options with your upper class midshipmen, be aware that the classes of 2006
and earlier have selected majors and will complete their studies under a
different set of rules. We will provide you more information on this topic as
you approach the time to make your selection. W. C. Miller Academic Dean and Provost |